18 TREES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



appearance to the twig, about f of an inch long ; bluish-green , 

 glaucous on the new shoots, needle-shaped, 4-angled, slightly 

 curved, bluntish or sharp-pointed, often mucronate, marked on 

 each side with several parallel rows of dots, malodorous, espe- 

 cially when bruised. 



Inflorescence. April to May. Sterile flowers terminal or 

 axillary, on wood of the preceding season ; distinctly stalked \ 

 cylindrical, \ an inch long ; anthers pale red : fertile flowers at 

 or near ends of season's shoots ; scales pale red or green, 

 spirally imbricated, broader than long ; margin roundish, 

 entire or nearly so ; each scale bearing two ovules. 



Fruit. Cones short-stalked, at or near ends of branchlets, 

 light green while growing, pale brownish when mature, spread- 

 ing, 1-2^- inches long, when closed cylindrical, tapering towards 

 the apex, cylindrical or ovate-cylindrical when open, mostly 

 falling the first winter ; scales broad, thin, smooth ; margin 

 rounded, sometimes straight-topped, usually entire. 



Horticultural Value. A beautiful tree, requiring cold win- 

 ters for its finest development, the best of our New England 

 spruces for ornamental and forest plantations in the northern 

 sections ; grows rapidly in moist or well-drained soils, in open 

 sun or shade, and in exposed situations. The foliage is some^ 

 times infested by the red spider. Propagated from seed. 



PLATE VIII. PICEA ALBA. 



1. Branch with sterile flowers. 



2. Stamen, front view. 



3. Stamen, side view. 



4. Branch with fertile flowers. 



5. Cover-scale and ovuliferous scale, outer side. 



6. Ovuliferous scale with ovules, inner side. 



7. Fruiting branch. 



8. Open cone. 



9. Seed with ovuliferous scale. 

 1Q. Leaves. 



11. Cross-sections of leaves. 



